Beaumont councilman questions proposed park at school

By Amos Morale III

Published 9:30 am, Friday, February 10, 2012

Photo: TAMMY MCKINLEY

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City counsilman, Mike Getz expresses concerns about building a community recreation area using BISD and Community Development Block Grant monies during a town hall meeting at Jones-Clark Elementary School in Beaumont, Thursday, February 9, 2012. Tammy McKinley/The Enterprise less

City counsilman, Mike Getz expresses concerns about building a community recreation area using BISD and Community Development Block Grant monies during a town hall meeting at Jones-Clark Elementary School in ... more

They then witnessed an argument sparked by questions from school district critic City Councilman Mike Getz.

Jackuelyn Lavergne, Jones-Clark Elementary School principal, said the school has applied for a $35,000 Community Block Development Grant from the city to construct Jones-Clark Community Park. The park would be located on the north side of the school's campus and would include a walking asphalt trail, a pavilion, a basketball court and a fence around the property.

Lavergne said the property might include playground equipment at a later date but stressed that this was not just a playground as community members would be able to use the facility at designated hours.

"It's about making a healthy community," she said.

Many of the meeting's attendees were in support of the idea, but some questions were raised.

Beaumont City Councilman Mike Getz questioned why the school simply didn't ask the Beaumont Independent School District's Board of Trustees for the money. He also asked if it was legal to lock the gates of a park.

City Councilman Jamie Smith told Getz that Tyrrell Park is closed to the public at certain times, and Shirley Bonton, BISD's deputy superintendent, told the crowd that it was not uncommon for Parent-Teacher Associations to raise money to upgrade a school's facilities.

One parent, Jenise Bush, 42, saw Getz's questioning as an attack on the proposed park, telling the crowd his comments made her angry.

Getz responded by asking the crowd why the district could "spend $100,000 to send people to New Orleans" and was asked by school administrators shortly after to relinquish the microphone.

All of the projects the school hopes to eventually complete will cost about $90,000 but the school is writing the grant for $35,000. The school would have to raise 25 percent of that total.

The grant application is due Feb. 23, and if the school receives the grant, the funds would be awarded in July. The goal is to complete the park by October.

Lavergne said similar grants were done in the Charlton-Pollard area, and the school has checked with BISD's attorney to make sure this was legal. She likened the proposed usage to the public's usage of West Brook High School's track. The school track is open to the public at designated times.